Austral Resources Australia (ASX:AR1) has taken delivery of a new agglomeration drum at its Mt Kelly Copper Processing Facility to support future copper production in North West Queensland.
According to the company, the equipment is a strategic investment in long-life infrastructure for its western operations. The board approved the investment in late 2025 to help maintain Austral’s copper cathode production capability.
Mt Kelly’s existing agglomeration drum has processed more than 22 million tonnes of ore and contributed to the production of more than 155,000 tonnes of LME grade A copper cathode.
The replacement positions Mt Kelly to maintain copper oxide production capacity well into the future.
COO Shane O’Connell says the operational reset focuses on building sustainable infrastructure rather than achieving short-term milestones.
“[The reset] has been about rebuilding Austral with the infrastructure required to support decades of reliable copper production,” O’Connell says.
“The board’s decision to approve this investment early demonstrates confidence in the future of Mt Kelly and our western operations.
Together, Mt Kelly and Rocklands position Austral to unlock value from its existing assets while supporting the long-term development of the North West Queensland copper province.”
Mt Kelly operates as the region’s only solvent extraction-electrowinning copper cathode production facility, complementing Austral’s sulphide processing capability at Rocklands. As a critical component of the heap leach process, the agglomeration drum improves copper recovery and long-term operating efficiency.
Installation of the new drum is expected to commence over the coming days.
Austral Resources Australia is a copper cathode producer operating in the Mt Isa region in Queensland.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
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